Space Environment Technologies and Science (SETS) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

The Air Force Research Laboratory is seeking sources capable of supporting the Space Environment Technologies and Science (SETS) Program, which encompasses 5 technical areas: Solar, Solar Wind, and Ionospheric Effects; Thermosphere, Satellite Drag and the Reentry Environment; Plasma Physics and Chemistry; Particle Effects and Radiation Belt Environment; and Cislunar Environment. The program aims to understand and quantify the impact of the space environment on Department of Defense and national security systems, and to achieve a capability to specify, predict, mitigate, and exploit the effects of the space environment. Some key deliverable items include final scientific and technical reports, hardware, software, and significant end items. The period of performance will be stated in the Call, and the cost of preparing a response to Calls is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract. * Key areas of research include advanced environmental observing systems, specification and prediction models of solar activity, ionospheric conditions, magnetospheric activity, thermosphere, satellite drag, and the reentry environment. * The program is interested in understanding the impact of the space environment on communication, command, and control systems, as well as positioning, navigation, and timing systems. * The program aims to develop novel approaches to space- and ground-based solar, heliospheric, ionospheric, and magnetospheric instrumentation and data. * The program is seeking sources that can provide innovative and technically sound approaches to accomplish the Call's objectives.